The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-30
THE FIDELITY BANK.
The Legal Inquiry Into Its Failure-A Jury
Secured and the Investigation Begun.

CINCINNATI. Nov 29.-The legal investigation
of the great Fidelity Bank failure, so far as it
can be made in a criminal trial. began this morn
ing at 10 o'clock in the United States Court,
when the case of E. L. Harper was called Judge
Sage occupied the bench alone Judge Jacksons
health not being sufficient to justify him in I'M
dertaking any more labor than must be done
He will probably sit when the more serious
questions arise. The courtroom was crowded
with spectators before the time for the opening
of court. The large space set apart for the
court, its officers, the parties and their
attorneys, the bar and the press was also fully
occupied. Shortly before 10 the distinguished
looking defendant, Mr.. E. L. Harper, appeared
in custody of the United States marshal and
took seat beside his counsel Judge NJ. f. Viii
and c. II. Blackburn. Next him sat his
faithful wife, and beside her sat Miss Matthews,
her sister Harpers appearance has not mate
rally changed since June last, when he sat at
his desk in the luxurious Office of his great bank.
Across the table sat the government counsel
District Attorney W. B. Burnett and his two
sistants, j. E. Bruce and Henry Hooper. A
woman sat in front of the judges desk to take
the official report in shorthand.
When the case was called, Mr.. Harper
nounced that he ready. The arrangement
proceeded by reading the substance of the long
Indictment, to which the defendant pleaded not
guilty. Then the work of selecting jury be-
gan: The first man called, Daniel Scott, said
he could give impartial verdict upon the tes
timony. He was excused by the court
Judge jackson subsequently took his seat on
the bench. The examination of Jurors was
tedious. 1t was not until o'clock that the full
number had been found, qualified, accepted and
the oath administered The jury is made up
follows: Kiefer Westlake, Miami county; Clark
Taylor. Lawrence county; Clarkson Butter
worth, Clinton county; Silas Williamson. Butler
county: Edward Roberts, Warren county; VIM.
Yingling, Lawrence county; u. D. Fisher, Ham
ilton county; Raymon Gee. Clermont county;
VIM. Martindale Greene county; jeremiah
Wenger, Montgomery county; John Stevenson,
Greene county; John B. Turner Clermont
county.
Judge jackson ordered printed copy of the
long Indictment to be given to each juror.
After the jury had been sworn in. District
Attorney Burnett began his address. He
viewed the charges against Harper set forth
in the Indictment. explaining his motives of ac-
ton for misapplication and embezZlement of
funds as being effort to himself from
the maelstrom of the Chicago wheat deal, He
detailed how Harper used the names of bogus
firms and false credits. aided by cashier Hop
kins; how bogus drafts RENTED to Chi
cago to .'bull" wheat through the broker Hoyt.
the paper being afterwards taken up by Harper.
The exchange clerk. Miss Holiness would hold
the Hopkins checks until after bank hours. She
must have some vouchers. and would give
Hopkinss check to Harper, who would
in turn give his own check for the amount.
The Chicago firm would draw against false
letter of credit from the Fedlity Bank. Thus
the deception was kept up, the Chicago bank
being debited or credited as the case might be.
Chicago bankers were made to believe there
a powerful Cincinnati syndicate in the
deal, and they demanded more margins. They
advised that funds were in the Fedility
Bank, and drew against those supposed funds
only to find that no deposit had been made.
At o'clock Mr.. Burnett concluded his adj
dress for the government. Major Blackburn
then opened for the defendant. but he only said
a few words when the court adjourned to 10
o'clock tomorrow morning.